Tetiitk



Paiemedluly 5. 1859.

Nl. LUDLUM.

Water Tight Trunk.

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MATTHIAS LUDLUM, or FMR HAVEN, vnaMoN'rf.

TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,648', dated Sl'ulyA 5, 1859.

of a trunk constructed according to my improvement; Figs. 2 and 3transverse sections of the same when in its open and closed conditions;and Fig. 1l a longitudinal section through its outer double lid.

The trunk shown in the accompanying drawing has its box or body part (A)made of wood or any other suitable material covered on the exterior withleather (a) and on the interior with a metallic lining (b) covered withcotton or other suitable material. Such construction however may be moreor less varied, and the materials changed, so long as said box-partforms a shell that is impervious to water and in a measure or whollyprecludes the penetration of damp. A metallic lining, for such purposeor purposes, to boXes of various kinds, has before been used. But,however secure against water and damp, the shell or boX part of thetrunk may be made, it is of but little or no avail unless the lid orcover be equally secure. Thus, double lids have been employed andvariously constructed or fitted to make the lid joint and coveringportion equally tight, but seldom, if ever, has this been perfectlyattained, or, if so, in au inconvenient or otherwise objectionablemanner. A trunk or box of a self sealing character that shall be waterand damp proof, or either, at its joints and in or atall itssurroundings or parts, including alike the lid and the shell, musteverbe a desideratum among travelers and others, and if of buoyantconstruction as well has its value increased by reason of itsapplicability to the preservation of valuable contents when the trunk isimmersed or thrown into water, and by reason of its adaptability to actas a float for the protection of human life in cases of shipwreck oraccident at sea.

My improvement accomplishes this desideratum in a manner more perfectthan has heretofore been attained. Thus, I not only construct the boXpart (A) as specied, but,

femploying a freely hung valvular lid or cover (B) within t-he main orouter lid I also make said valvular lid water and damp proof by facingit on the inside with a metallic lining (eZ) that may be covered withcotton (e), or otherwise suitably construct the same to give it the sameor like water and damp proof character that the box part (A) of thetrunk possesses. In other respects this valvular lid (B) need not differfrom the valvular lid described in Letters Patent of the United States,issued to me on the fifth day of April, A. D. 1859; said lid being shownas arranged for inde7 pendent play on the .inside of the main or outerlid (C), and being acted upon by a spring (f) and faced or bordered onthe inside by leather (g) or other suitable material, so that when theouter lid is shut to said valvular lid accommodates itself in anindependent manner to form a water-tight joint to the opening portion ofthe box, by the leather facing to said valvular lid embedding itself inor on a ledge (It) surrounding the upper part of the shell of the boX,and by said valvular lid being forcibly held there by the spring (f)when the outer lid (C) is locked or closed, and, in case of thesubmersion of the trunk in water and water leaking through the joint orotherwise of the outer lid (C) to the back of the valvular lid, thepressure of the water serving to aid the spring in keeping the valvularlid tight to its fit against its ledge or bed Superior however in manyrespects as is the valvular lid (B) to a mere leather facing on theinside of the outer lid, a trunk so provided, and metallic lined or madewater proof or water and damp proof throughout its boX part and valvularlid, would still be insecure and defective, as though the outer lid (C)would protect the valvular lid (B) from external interference or injuryand, in the case of strainage or warping of the outer lid, theindependently hung and spring borne valvular lid would still accommodateitself to make a close fit at its junction with its ledge or bed (h),yet said valvular lid would be liable to be thrust away from its bed orseat either by an over-packing of the contents in the box or by theweight of the contents resting on the valvular lid in case of the trunkbeing turned upside down-a likely position for it to assume both whenthrowing the trunk overboard from a vessel and in the use of it as afloat and under a variety of eireumst-anes. Against such, the outer lid(C) offers no protection and however tightly it may be looked it can inyno Wise control on the in ,side the freely hung or independent valvularbut the oflice of Which here is, in conjunction- Withthe outer lid, tosecure to the valvular lid efficiency of action under every variety ofcircumstances. Such combination of an independent valvular lid with aninner as Well as outer lid is distinguishable from a mere arrangement ofsupplementary lids.

Asy the outer lid is provided with a lock or fastening, so the inner lid(D) should also provided with a hook, spring bolt, or other suitablefastening to secure it When closed.

In illustration of a previous remark that i the mere materials may bechanged to give vto the trunk its Water proof character, I

Will only add, in conclusion, that, instead for instance of thernetallielining (b and d) to the box part and valvular cover, a comT Vpositionlaid on With the brush may be used;

but such and other ehanges, not materially departing from my improvementas herein set forth, it will be obvious may or may not be adopted. t

I elalm- The combination, With aV Water-tight shell or body partV (A) toa trunk or box having ordinary or any other suitable inner and outerlids (C and D), of a valvular spring borne lid (B) of Water-tightconstruction and arranged to occupy an intermediate position in relationtothe inner and outer or ordinary lids (C and D), essentially as and`for the purpose or purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MATTHIAS LUDLUM.

Witnesses: Y

APoLLos M. ELMER, JOHN O. WOODRUFF. Y

